The wind at the university gates smelled of dust and paint—half-welcome, half-warning.
Keinari Reyes stepped through them, his footsteps slow but steady, his breath shallow from the Manila humidity. He looked around. Old buildings towered around him, parts crumbling, parts polished just enough for show. Banners fluttered above the walkway: "Welcome, Freshmen!"—as if anything about this place was warm.
Keinari stood out, even when he tried not to.
He was tall—unnaturally so—and lean, like someone still growing into himself. Midnight-black hair with faint purple streaks hung just above his eyes. Behind his thick, slightly fogged glasses, his midnight-blue gaze scanned everything—too alert for someone who barely slept.
He knew he was different. But he didn't know yet that he was cursed.
The student registration line felt like an eternity. The admin clerk barely looked up as he reached the desk.
Last name?she said without tone. Reyes. Keinari Reyes. She paused. Then typed faster than she needed to, her expression suddenly neutral. Ah. Political Science, yes? First-year.
She handed him a folder and stamped a form—too hard, too deliberate. Then he saw it.
A flicker. Behind her, something twisted in the air like smoke. A black, snake-like shadow curled from her back. It hovered, whispering things Keinari couldn't quite hear. Floating over her head, a word etched itself in the air:
ENVY.
He blinked. The shadow was gone. The clerk smiled, but it wasn't real. Not to him. His head throbbed.
By midday, the campus felt heavier. Students buzzed around with the same energy they always had in crowds—half hope, half performance. Keinari sat alone in the canteen, sipping lukewarm cola and crunching on a bag of chips.
He'd barely taken two bites when someone slid into the seat across him. Tasty, she said, eyeing his sad meal. Very nutritious.
He looked up. She had red-streaked hair, a grin that looked like it'd been trained to look effortless, and a school ID worn like it didn't matter. Her name was stamped in all caps: Trixcy Cier.
You're the one who sees things, right? she asked. Keinari frowned. Excuse me?
The truth distortions. You see them. I saw your face back at the admin hall."
He didn't respond. She tapped her ID against the table. You're not alone, you know. We all have curses. Yours just… activated earlier than most.
She handed him something under the table. A small, red leather booklet. Codex Veritas: Volume I.